Portland survives Squirrels' comebacks, wins in 11 innings

Gwinnett scored five runs in the first inning off Chris Jones (6-8) and went on to beat the Norfolk Tides 7-1 in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Braves right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (3-3) made the lead stand up, pitching seven innings and holding the Tides to a run. Norfolk's Jimmy Paredes and Steve Clevenger each batted 3-for-4.

Tyler Pastornicky, Christian Bethancourt, Elmer Reyes, Sean Kazmar, Edward Salcedo and Todd Cunningham each had two hits for the Braves.

On Aug. 15 at Harbor Park, the Tides will be giving away gnome figurines of manager Ron Johnson to the first 3,000 fans at Harbor Park. The players will wear and auction gnome-themed jerseys, with proceeds benefiting the United Way. ...

Pitcher Ryan Webb, who was optioned to Norfolk from Baltimore earlier this week, became the second member of his family to appear for the Tides. His father, Hank, played 69 games for them from 1973-76.

Eastern League:

Despite coming back twice, the Richmond Flying Squirrels fell 12-7 in 11 innings to the league-leading Portland Sea Dogs (74-47) at The Diamond.

Portland, Boston's Double-A club, scored five unearned runs in the 11th inning. Mike Miller hit a go-ahead infield single, and Michael Almanzar all but sealed the outcome with a grand slam.

The Squirrels (67-53) overcame a 6-2 gap to force extra innings, fell behind 7-6 in the 10th but pulled even at 7 on pinch hitter Devin Harris' leadoff home run.

After Sunday’s home game against the Sea Dogs, the Flying Squirrels travel north to face the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, then head to Maine to face the Eastern Division-leading Sea Dogs.

Richmond built enough of a cushion so that it still led the Western Division despite an eight-game losing streak, the longest in history of a franchise that begin in 2010. The Squirrels ended that slide Friday.

Coastal Plain League:

The Wilson Tobs, who face the Peninsula Pilots in a best-of-three Petitt Cup semifinal series beginning at 5:05 p.m. Sunday in North Carolina, will bring in the momentum they garnered by rallying from a 6-2 deficit to beat the host Edenton Steamers 8-7 Friday to complete a two-game quarterfinal sweep.

UNC Pembroke’s Collins Cuthrell had a home run and four RBI in that game for Wilson.

Cal Ripken League:

The Williamsburg Revolution dropped its opener in the Cal Ripken 10-and-under World Series in Winchester, falling 12-2 to the Sarasota Sting of Florida.